Man of the Moment (1955)

Civil Servant Norman becomes the favourite of the rulers of a South Seas island that the British have an interest in.

Director:

John Paddy Carstairs

Writers:

Maurice Cowan (original story), Vernon Sylvaine (screenplay),

Stars:

Norman Wisdom, Lana Morris, Belinda Lee

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Norman Wisdom	...	Norman
Lana Morris	...	Penny
Belinda Lee	...	Sonia
Jerry Desmonde	...	Jackson
Karel Stepanek	...	Lom
Garry Marsh	...	British Delegate
Inia Te Wiata	...	King of Tawaki
Evelyn Roberts	...	Sir Horace
Violet Farebrother	...	Queen of Tawaki
Martin Miller	...	Swiss Tailor
Eugene Deckers	...	Day Lift Man
Hugh Morton	...	Mitchell
Cyril Chamberlain	...	British Delegate
Lisa Gastoni	...	Chambermaid
Harold Kasket	...	Enrico

Storyline

Civil Servant Norman becomes the favourite of the rulers of a South Seas island that the British have an interest in.

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Plot Keywords:

camera shot of feet | female stockinged feet | four word title | based on play | actor shares first name with character

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Genres:

Comedy

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 November 1955 (UK)

Also Known As:

Ich und der Herr Minister

Filming Locations:

Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

J. Arthur Rank Organisation, Group Film Productions Limited

Technical Specs

Runtime:

85 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Referenced in Room 101: Episode #11.1 (2007)

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Soundtracks

"Dream For Sale"
By Arthur Groves and Peter Carroll
Performed by Norman Wisdom (uncredited)

User Reviews

Music, Love, Comedy, and Norman Wisdom

In his third film appearance as the lovable bumbling Norman, Norman Wisdom is a file clerk who becomes a delegate to a diplomatic conference, befriends the queen of a remote island, and winds up a knight. Wisdom's movie Norman became a knight nearly half a century before the Queen knighted Norman himself. "Man of the Moment" follows an episodic internal logic that provides Wisdom with ample opportunity to display his slapstick skills. Norman leaves rooms in shambles, tailors in shreds, and diplomats in bandages. His tea service at a government strategy meeting is hysterically priceless. Chased by gunmen, Norman runs through active TV studio sets and interrupts various programs and performances in progress; the results are inspired and funny. Meanwhile, Norman rarely looses his broad smile and cheerful demeanor.

A Tony nominee for his Broadway appearance in the musical "Walking Happy," Wisdom has a fine robust singing voice and delivers three pleasant songs herein. Despite a tedious extended bomb-in-suitcase sequence that is more scary than funny, the movie moves. Norman has two love interests, Sonia, the unattainable blonde goddess, and Penny, the down-to-earth girl that he initially annoys. "Man of the Moment" has all the essential ingredients for a pleasant 85 minutes of entertainment: music, love, comedy, and, above all, Norman Wisdom.